Child labourer rescued from customs officer's house

Mangalore, July 11: A 13 year old Bihari boy, who was forced to leave his school and work as child labourer in a house belonging to a government officer in the city, was rescued on Monday by the authorities.

“I want to become an officer,” said Hindi speaking Bimalesh after he was fetched out of the house by authorities in a raid conducted jointly by the Department of Labour, Department of Women and Child Welfare, and Employees State Insurance.

The officials led by Assistant Labour Commissioner A Venkatesh Shindihatti, stunned to know that the owner of the house, where the boy was working, was Assistant Commissioner of Customs identified as K Krishna Prasad, who is also a native of Bihar.

The boy, though initially hesitated to speak, later expressed his desire before media persons that he wanted to go to school.

Bimalesh, who lost his father at a very early age, said that his mother asked him to stay at Krishna Prasad's house.

Mr Shindihatti said that the boy was employed to perform domestic chores and to bring things from market since last two months.

Dr. Madhukar of ESI after examining the boy informed that he might be between 12 and 14 years. However, the boy's bones and teeth are yet to be examined and the X- rays will be taken in the Government Wenlock Hospital, he informed.

The boy was later produced before Child Welfare Committee.

Accused vanishes!

When the officials, acting on tip off, knocked the door at flat No 203, in Heritage Apartment near Barke Police Station, at around 1 p.m. the woman inside the house refused to open the door and asked to speak with the house owner K Krishna Prasad.

When, Mr Shindhihatti spoke to Prasad over phone, the latter asked him to come next day as there were no male members inside the house. However, Mr Shindhihatti insisted that they cannot go back without meeting the boy, who was inside the house. Prasad replied that he would be there within 20 minutes.

Although, the officials waited for next two hours patiently, Prasad did not come and finally the woman inside the house opened the door and allowed for inspection.

Later, one of the neighbours of Prasad said that he had come to the flat, but, escaped after coming to know that media persons and cameramen were also waiting along with the officials for him.